Valve targets Steam video, music downloads

More than just games coming your way by the end of '08

Valve intends to offer more than just games over digital distribution platform Steam by the end of 2008.

Steam, which recently surpassed 15 million registered users, could soon offer videos and music downloads in addition to gaming content, according to Doug Lombardi, Valve's VP of marketing.

"We're looking at more casual games and international games [for Steam]," Lombardi said in an interview with Tom's Games. "And we're also looking at other types of content like video and music. We're definitely having those conversations and meetings, and we're reaching out to folks with other types of digital entertainment. I think before the end of the year, you'll probably see some pilot programs with other digital entertainment on Steam."

Lombardi also played down reports that the PC games business is in crisis, although he didn't go as far as to say that the sector is thriving, as Valve president Gabe Newell recently stated.

"In America, there's no doubt there's a problem with PC game retail sales. But look at other countries like Germany, where sales are much stronger compared to the consoles in a lot of cases. So you have to look at the bigger picture; just look at what Blizzard did alone in 2007.

"And you also have to look at how money is changing hands and how games are being distributed for the PC games business. The PC is way more evolved in that respect, and digital distribution is a big part of it."